Great Finds Hidden Away at the National Archives

Find the missing glider load lists for Arnhem next time

 

Not looking and not looking :p

 

Another nearly cack my pants, shout 'holy f***king BEF', cold shiver and then the shakes of excitement...

More to follow on this late (I will do a thread on it), but the short version so far .... I copied a small BEF Battery war diary today and in the back was a sketch map of Kemple Park marking the spot where some members of the battery were buried in temporary graves. The diary had clearly not been looked at since it was filed as the diary pages had become pressed together over the years. The casualties were killed during an air raid on the 24th May.

After rushing home at the speed of a thousand gazelles tonight, I'm currently downloading the photographs of the diary (amongst others) to see where CWGC has them or if they are on the Dunkirk Memorial.

 

Cheers for the message today, Andy. It will make an interesting story, regardless of what the outcome was at the time....What is the name of the area ? It doesn't ring a bell to me.

 

They were buried in a Park called Kemel according to the map, Owen thought it was near Ypres.

 

Is it the same as the Great War's Kemmel Hill?

 

Ah, the 'Kemmelberg' - The 'p' confused me.

Any findings yet ? If they're still missing then I think you might find yourself in Europe this year....

 

Computer says another 8 and half hours to down load all the pics. Then I've got to sort them into files.

 

So we'll know in time for breakfast?

 

Think I've found them using Geoff's SE, searching unit details. One is buried in Wormhoudt and died on the 26th. I know there was a CCS there on that date so he must have died of wounds . I think the other nine have the wrong date of death but they are buried here:

http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/15401/KEMMEL%20CHATEAU%20MILITARY%20CEMETERY

There is a casualty list in the diary so I'll check the names off in case anyone was missed.

 

That would explain the reference to a park. Well found.

 

Can't remember how many casualties are in the report, there could be more than that - I'll put a thread together in the 1940 section when I've sorted it all out.

 

Hi Andy

I am very interested in the diary of the CO of the East Riding Yeomanry - can you tell me where to find it at Kew?

Thanks
Tony

 

Have you looked in WO 167/457?

 

No, but I will do....thanks.